About Us

Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida’s Board of Directors consists of community volunteers who have been elected by the Council’s Delegate Body. The board establishes policies to ensure the integrity of the organization. The Board Development Committee is elected by the Delegate Body to prepare and present a single slate of nominees to be considered for election to the Board of Directors, Board Development Committee and every three years, as National Council Delegates and Alternates. The Delegate Body consists of adult volunteers and members 14 – 17 years old elected in their service units who serve as voting members at the Council’s Annual Meeting. The Delegate Body also elects the Board of Directors and Board Development Committee, in addition to approving Council By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation.

Board of Directors

Chair – Lorna Brown-Burton (2013-2015)Ms. Brown-Burton, a resident of Coral Springs, is the owner of her own law firm, Law Office of Lorna E. Brown-Burton, P.A. and has been practicing Worker’s Compensation defense on behalf of Employer/Carrier/Serving Agents and Consumer Bankruptcy Law on behalf of the individual consumer. Ms. Brown-Burton earned her Degree of Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University for the Study of Law. She was admitted to the Bar in 1987 and was admitted to the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida in 1990. Ms. Brown-Burton was an active member of the Legal Aid Board of Directors and held several officer positions which included President/Chair.

Ms Brown-Burton is also a member of the workers’ Compensation Section of the Florida Bar, the Labor and Employment Section of the Florida Bar and the Business Law Section of the Florida Bar. Ms Brown-Burton is currently serving as the 17th Circuit Representative for Broward County on the Florida Bar Board of Governors which is the governing body for attorneys licensed to practice law in the State of Florida and previously served two 3-year terms on the Florida Bar Grievance Committee “17E” where she also served as Chair of that committee.

In her continuing community involvement, Ms. Brown-Burton is currently affiliated with Broward Lawyers Care; Leadership Broward; Broward Women’s Alliance; and Broward Alliance. She currently serves as Chair on the GSSEF Board of Directors. Ms. Brown-Burton has been recognized for her achievements in “Who’s Who in Black South Florida”, The Inaugural Edition, 2007, as one of South Florida’s Most Influential, “Who is Who in Black South Florida”, The Second Edition, 2009, as South Florida’s Counselors and by ICABA (Identify Connect Activate the Black Accomplished), Profile Directory of South Florida’s 100 Most Accomplished Blacks in Healthcare and Law, The Inaugural Edition, 2009 and was also featured in The Broward Alliance 2009 Economic Sourcebook.

Vice Chair – Tami Donnally (2014-2015)

Tami is the Administrator at EBC Ministries in Lake Worth and currently serves on 2 non-profit boards — Body Network in Port St. Lucie and Community Care in Royal Palm Beach. She is a former Girl Scout and a former Girl Scout volunteer. She has a Masters degree in Religious Education. She is married to David Donnally for 32 years, and they have one daughter, and 2 grandchildren. Tami has one book published and is working on a second. She enjoys reading, politics, entertaining, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Chris graduated from Dartmouth College with a bachelor’s degree in History and earned an M.B.A. from Southern Methodist University’s Cox Business School. He is currently a member of the GSSEF Board and a member of the Board Development Committee.

Chris Herron is also CHAIR of the Finance Committee.

Members at Large (2014-2016)

Nancy Proffitt

Ms. Proffitt is the President of Proffitt Management Solutions in West Palm Beach. She has served as the Finance Chair for Habitat for Humanity, and has served on the boards of Leadership PBC, Legacy Bank and the Delray Chamber of Commerce. She has an MBA in Finance / Operations and a degree in Education / Music from FSU.Prior to founding Proffitt Management Solutions, she served as a senior management executive for more than 20 years with FedEx Corporation. She is a lifetime member of Girl Scouting and currently serves on the 100th anniversary committee. Her interests include biking and kayaking.

MaryAnn StetsonMaryAnn, a native of Massachusetts is the owner and CEO of West Palm Pools, Inc. and a State of FL licensed Certified Swimming Pool Contractor. She is a member of the Chamber of the Palm Beaches and a 2011 Graduate of Leadership West Palm Beach. Joining the Florida State Chamber Foundation she became a committee member of their Six Pillar’s Program: Quality of Life & Quality Places. This program relates to the environment and specifically clean water. The Florida Chamber Foundation’s Six Pillars is comprised of more than 400 top business leaders and issue experts from around the state. They are the guiding force in the development of the first-ever, statewide, 20-year strategic plan toward a future economy that includes high-paying jobs, global competitiveness and vibrant communities.

MaryAnn is a member of the Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theater participating in acting and production classes, and became an Associate Producer to the movie, Turkles. She has also been affiliated with the Armed Forces Radio and Television Services (AFRTS), Misawa, Japan, WSVN Channel 7, Miami, and WPTV Channel 5 in West Palm Beach. While at WPTV she was part of a production team which won an Emmy for the station.

MaryAnn has been a Brownie and a Girl Scout. She earned the nickname “Wheels,” as a leader with her Texas troop, as a result of procuring a 1500 gallon Water Buffalo from Goodfellow Air Force Base to bring water to their Girl Scout Jamboree. She was also instrumental in retrieving Jamboree entertainers Shari Lewis and “Lambchop’s” lost luggage from the airport terminal.

MaryAnn has lived and worked in most of the free world, including Japan, the Philippines and Viet Nam. MaryAnn lives in Jupiter with her husband Kenneth. She has 4 children and four grandchildren.

MaryAnn Stetson is CHAIR of the Board Development Committee.

Linda Strutt

Linda is president of Linda Strutt Consulting, Inc., a planning, zoning and development consulting firm located in Deerfield Beach. She has 35 years of professional planning experience, including former Director of Planning for Williams, Hatfield & Stoner; a planner with a Boca Raton consulting firm; and worked with Dr. John DeGrove as a research assistant at the FAU-FIU Joint Center for Environmental and Urban Problems. Linda has served on the Coconut Creek Planning and Zoning Board; appeared as a guest panelist and/or guest speaker on growth management and has participated in several visioning programs.

Linda is a graduate of and former secretary of, Leadership Broward VII and a Leadership Broward Foundation member. She has completed the Georgia Institute of Technology continuing education courses in Airport Noise and Land Use Planning.

Linda is a current board member and former President of the Broward Section of the American Planning Association; a former Board Chair of the Mental Health Association of Broward County and was formerly Treasurer, and Board member of the Palm Beach County Planning Congress. She completed the Masters in Public Administration (MPA) Program at Florida Atlantic University and has a BA from The American University. Her professional affiliations include the American Institute of Certified Planners and the American Planning Association.

Members at Large (2013-2015)

Peggy CalhounPeggy is a senior Principal with Miller, Calhoun & Company. She is an ACFE, Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive. She graduated from Southern Illinois University as an Illinois State Scholar and Presidential Scholar at the age of 19. In 1994, she was awarded a Master of Arts in Philanthropy and Development from St. Mary’s College in Minnesota.

She is a frequent lecturer and published author. She began her career as Executive Director of a crisis intervention agency; has taught Grant Writing, Fund Development Planned Giving for Nova Southeastern University, Barry University and Rollins College. Peggy is included in the Who’s Who in the South and Southwest; Who’s Who of American Women, and Who’s Who in the World. She resides in Fort Lauderdale with her husband and twins.

Neil CampbellNeil is a Business Line Manager and District Manager with the Shaw Group. He is a native of Scotland and Canada but has spent most of his life in study and work traveling through Europe, Africa, Madagascar, the United States and Canada. Neil graduated as a Geologist from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland and has applied his knowledge to the oil industry and environmental industry spending the last 20 years in Florida providing environmental services for groundwater resource protection and infrastructure improvements.

Neil enjoys rugby, outdoor pursuits and fishing and is an avid history reader on the development of Florida and enjoys tackling issues facing Florida growth. Neil’s main focus is STEM education for Florida youth and working with the transition from an agricultural/tourism to technology based economy. Neil and his wife Alison have 2 sons, one in University of Central Florida and one at home.

Neil Campbell is CHAIR of the Audit Committee.

Michael FowlerMichael is the VP of Information at NextEra Energy in Juno Beach. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business, with a concentration in Computer Information Systems from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore in 1997. He has over 20 years of IT experience in Systems Development, Implementation and Support. He is an Advisory Member on the Technical Advisory Committee in Palm Beach County Schools since 2012.

Franny LarueFranny, a native of Philadelphia, PA, has lived in Florida for over 33 years. She is the Owner of Gourmet Galaxy, a full service catering company that caters to the finest clientele. Gourmet Galaxy will celebrate its 25th year in business this year. She has been in the hospitality and catering business most of her adult life. Franny was a member of the host committee of the GSSEF Forever Green 100th Event.

Franny LaRue is also a member of the Board Development Committee and the Fund Development Committee.

Emma J. Wynn SampsonEmma Sampson, retiree of the City of Oakland Park, gained experience in local government operations through service in the City Manager’s Office, Fire Department, Human Resources, Community Development and Municipal Service Departments. Emma has a Bachelors Degree in Business from Nova Southeastern University and a Masters from the University Phoenix in Organizational Management. She moved to south Florida from Rochester, New York over twenty years ago and now resides in Deerfield Beach. Emma has two sons and one daughter.

Mimi VailMimi Vail is active in selling real estate in Palm Beach County. Prior to selling residential real estate, Mimi had a team of professionals who purchased high end older homes for restoration and resell. Mimi has 3 grown children. Originally from Washington DC, she moved to Palm Beach in 1993. Mimi enjoys the outdoors and likes to travel.

Dr. Jean A. WihbeyDr. Wihbey is the Provost at the Eissey Campus of Palm Beach State College. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut, an MS in counseling from Southern Connecticut State University and a BA from Fairfield University. She is on the Board of Directors and is the President Elect 2011 for the PGA Corridor Association, and currently serves on the North Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Women in Business Board of Directors, the Business Development Council of Palm Beach and the Business Forum of Palm Beach County. Her goal is to be active in the community and create awareness of GSSEF. Her research interests and presentations are on workplace ethics, trust and organizational culture. She has received numerous awards in teaching and leadership excellence.

GIRL BOARD ADVISORY MEMBERS, 2014-2015

Elise H.Elise is a student at Suncoast Community High School. She has been a Girl Scout since age 5, has completed her Sisterhood Journey, her Sow What Journey, and the Girl Scout Silver Award. She has received the Cadette Challenge Pin, the Girl Scout Bronze Award, Junior Aide Award and Junior Leadership as well as numerous badges. She has participated in many Council activities, including In-Gatherings, Camporee, Camp Tastic!, summer camps, day camps and the Council Unity Celebration.

Elise has helped plan and run the Juliette Program; earned the Program Aide pin; 4 Journey awards; attended the National Girl Scout Sing-Along in Washington, DC, and participated in the Camp Nocatee Summer Olympics.

Kristen R.Kristen is a student at Pembroke Pines Charter High School. She has been a Girl Scout since 1st grade and has participated in many Girl Scout events, including Camp Creepy, Mall Madness, Feeding Florida and Baby Basics. She has completed her Bronze, and her Silver Awards; earned the Cadette Journey Summit, the Cadette Leadership Pin, and the Community Service Pin. She participated in the opening ceremony at the 2011 – 2012 annual meeting and at the Girl Scout Forum for Area 4. She also volunteered at Cookie University.

She represented Girl Scouts at several flag raising ceremonies at Coventry Health Care and through her work on the Silver Award, represented Girl Scouts at the City of Pembroke Pines Charter Elementary School – FSU after care program, and spoke with a state representative at Legislative Days in support of Girl Scouts.